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APPLICATION FILED MAR. 28, I919.-

Patented Oct. 21, 1919.

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CLAUDE A, CONLIN, 015 LOS GELES, CALIFORNIA.

SPEAKERS PROMPTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 21, 1919.

Application filed March 28, 1919. Serial No. 285,923,

To all whom it mayconccrn:

Be it known that I, CLAUDE A. CONLIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Speakers Prompters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a speakers prompter and particularly pertains to a device for containing and operating an inscription receiving ribbon which is especially adapted for use by speakers and lecturers as an aid to memory while addressing an audience.

It is the object of this invention to provide a device of the above character embodying a spherical casing containing the inscription receiving ribbon and the operating mechanism therefor whereby the purpose of the device is disguised and not apparent to the ordinary observer.

Another object is to provide a simple and effective means for advancing an inscription receiving ribbon together with a construction whereby the mechanism may be removably mounted within a spherical casing.

A further object is to provide means whereby the ribbon advancing mechanism may be operated exteriorly of the casing by substantially concealed, manually controlled actuator.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is aview in elevation with parts 7 broken away.

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section as seen on a line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the spherical casing.

Fig. 4 is a detail in perspective illustratinga portion of the housing rigidly mounted within the casing and showing one of the spring clamps for engaging the mechanism carrying frame.

More specifically, 6 indicates a spherical casing which may be formed of any suitable material, such as cast metal, sheet metal, glass, or the like; this casing being formed with a rectangular opening 7 having a tapered margin and adapted to receive a cover 8 having a beveled edge adapted to seat on the tapered margin of the opening.

This cover is shaped so that its outer surface will extend flush with and lie in continuation of the outer surface of the spherical casing, and is provided with an elongated reading slot 9 and a depression 10. Mounted within the casing is a rectangular housing 11, the side walls of which extend downwardly from the margin of the opening 7 thus forming a rectangular well within the spherical casing.

Mounted on the under side of the cover 8 is a frame 12 comprising a pair of side members spaced apart and connected together at their lower ends. The side members of this frame are designed to extend adjacent to the end walls of the housing 11, and to be frictionally connected to the latter in such manner astosecurely hold the frame against accidental displacement and also retain the cover 8 in its closed position. The frictional engagement between the housing and frame is here shown as effected by means of inwardly extending opposed spring tongues 13 formed in the end walls of the housing 11, which bear in opposite directions against the side members of the frame 12.

Mounted on frame 12 in spaced relation to each other is a pair of reels 14.v and 15 on which an inscriptionreceiving ribbon 16 is wound and adapted to be passed from one reel to the other.

The ribbon passes over a plate 17 extend-- ing between the upper portions of the frame 12 and arranged immediately below the reading slot 9; the plate 17 having down-' turned inwardly curved flanges 18 on its longitudinal edges forming round edges on the plate over which the ribbon passes. The upper reel 14 is fitted with a spur gear 19 which meshes with a pinion 20 supported on a stud shaft carried by the frame and which pinion extends through a slot 21 formed in the bottom of the depression 10 with the uppermost portion of the pinion within the plane of the spherical casing so as to practically conceal the pinion. Means are provided for frictionally retarding movement of the reels and holding same against accidentalunwinding. This means is here shown as consisting of spring fingers 22 and r 23 on the frame 12 arranged to bear against the ends of the reels 14 and 15.

In the operation of the invention the desired notes are inscribed on the ribbon in any suitable manner, and the ribbon is wound upon the reel 15 by means of a crank or other device (not shown) en ageable with a socket 2 1 formed in the hub of the reel; this operation being effected with the frame removed from the casing. The ribbon bearing the notes is then passed over plate 17 and connected to the reel 14 whereupon the frame is inserted in the well within the casing where it is engaged by the springs 13; the frame extending into the well such distance that the cover 8 will seat on the casing and in continuation thereof as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. When it is desired to read the notes on the ribbon the operator rotates reel 14 by rotating the pinion 20 which may be effected by drawing the thumb thereover, this action serving to position the notes so that they may be observed through the reading slot.

lVhile I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention, it is manifest that various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims, and it is obvious that while I have referred to the device as a speakers prompter, it may be employed for any otherpurpose.

I claim:

1. In a speakers prompter, a spherical .casing having a wall opening, a frame insertible through the opening, a cover for said opening to which said frame is affixed having a reading slot therein, an inscription receiving ribbon extending beneath the reading slot, means carried by said frame foradvancing said ribbon, operable through said cover, and means within said casing frictionally engaging said frame acting to retain the cover closed.

2. In a speakers prompter, a casing having a wall opening, a. well in said casing opposite the opening, a cover for the opening having a reading slot therein, a frame carried by said cover insertible through the opening, Ifrictional means for detachably engaging said frame with the walls of the well, an inscription receiving ribbon extending beneath the reading slot, and means carried by said frame operable through said cover for advancing said ribbon.

3. In a speakers prompter, a spherical casing having a wall opening, a cover for said opening formed to extend flush with and in continuation of the spherical surface of said casing, said cover formed. with a reading slot and having a depression, a

frame carried by said cover, a pair of vertically spaced horizontally disposed reels carried by said frame, an inscription receiving ribbon on said reels extending beneath the reading slot, and means operable in the depression and acting on the uppermost reel for advancing said ribbon.

4c. In a speakers prompter, a spherical casing having a wall opening formed with a beveled margin, a cover for said opening having a beveled edge to seat on the margin of the opening, said cover formed with a curved outer face to extend in continuation of the surface of the spherical casing, said cover formed with an. elongated reading slot, and means within said casing frictionally engageable with said frame to retain said cover in a closed position.

5. In a speakers prompter, a casing having a wall opening formed with a beveled edge to seat on the margin of the opening and formed with a reading slot, a frame on said cover extending within the casing, opposed spring tongues operating to frictionally connect the frame to the casing and to hold the cover in its seated position, and means on said frame for advancing an inscription receiving ribbon beneath the reading slot.

6. In a speakers prompter, a casing having a wall opening, a cover for closing said opening having a reading slot, a frame carried by said cover and adapted to extend into said casing when the cover is closed, a plate on said frame adjacent to the cover and extending beneath the reading slot, a pair of reels on said frame, a ribbon on said reels extending over said plate, and means operable through said cover for winding the ribbon from one of the reels upon the other.

7. In a speakers prompter, a casing having a wall opening, a cover for closing said opening having a reading slot, a frame carried by said cover and adapted to extend into said casing when the cover is closed, a plate on said frame adjacent to the cover and extending beneath the reading slot, a pair of reels on said frame, aribbon on said reels extending over said plate, and thumb operated rotary member projecting through said cover whereby one of said reels may be rotated to wind the ribbon thereon.

CLAUDE A. CONLIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

